Don’t Adjust Your Conscience to Fit the Culture

Ligonier Ministires ^ | August 3, 2020 | R.C. Sproul

[OddLane]

Most of us are familiar with Martin Luther’s heroic statement at the Diet of Worms when he was called upon to recant. “Unless I am convinced by sacred Scripture, or by evident reason, I cannot recant, for my conscience is held captive by the Word of God, and to act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.”

Today, we rarely hear any reference to the conscience. Yet throughout church history, the best Christian thinkers spoke about the conscience regularly.

Thomas Aquinas said the conscience is the God-given inner voice that either accuses or excuses us in terms of what we do. John Calvin spoke of the “divine sense” that God puts into every person, and part of that divine sense is the conscience. And when we turn to Scripture, we find that our consciences are an aspect of God’s revelation to us...

[MrChips]

Indeed, following one’s conscience, within concerted efforts to inform it according to Church teaching whenever possible, is the supreme teaching of the Catholic Church. Luther did not invent it. God did.

[SisterK]

Indeed. We are to overcome this world, to not submit to the culture.

[thepoodlebites]

Thank You for posting this article. When I read an article that reveals scholarly thought and such deep insight, it gives me strength.

A friend made a joke the other day about a squirrel going to hell for stealing the birdseed out of his feeder. We laughed but then I asked “is there a hell for animals”? I believe that all animals have a pure heart and cannot sin. They die but only because sin was introduced into the world and the natural order of things is decay. But after death animals enter into paradise and are taken care of by the Good Shepherd.

Only humans are capable of making a conscience decision to disobey God. We have the knowledge of good and evil and have been given dominion over animals as good stewards. We must acknowledge that we are sinners. We all do it, ignore that voice in our head providing guidance. We know it’s wrong but we still do it.

But God had a plan to rescue us from the power of sin which is death. Jesus Christ paid for all sin for all time when he died on the cross, most likely, on Friday, 33 AD. All we have to do is ask God to forgive us of our sins, believe and confess that Jesus died for us and that God raised him from the grave. We are saved by grace through faith. Behold, mercy triumphs over judgment.

The 69 weeks predicted by the prophet Daniel is complete but one week remains. One clear and sunny day the judgment of God will come. The sky will turn dark and the world will be consumed by fire. Only desert will remain while the animals thirst. But with one word God will restore all things. The animals will be satisfied and those whom God has chosen will be free of sin. All guilt and shame will be replaced by love, peace and joy. All creation will rejoice and praise the name of Jesus. All power, honor and glory be to him forever. In the end evil will be no more.

-Frank

[MrChips]

Thank you, but I’m afraid I did not post the article. I merely commented upon it. As for animals, I do fully and seriously believe that animals have souls and, perhaps, pure hearts as you describe. I have raised and suffered the deaths of four beautiful golden retrievers whom I fully expect to be waiting for me at the gates of heaven, if I am lucky enough to be admitted entrance.